Method of promoting apoptosis of glioblastoma tumor cells

Abstract

The invention provides a method of promoting apoptosis of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor cells. The method comprises isolating GBM tumor cells from a human brain biopsy specimen, isolating human neural stem cells (HNSCs) from the biopsy specimen, transforming the isolated HNSCs with an operative PEX gene, and exposing GBM tumor cells to the transformed HNSCs to thereby promote apoptosis of the tumor cells mediated by the expressed PEX gene.

That which is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of promoting apoptosis of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor cells, the method comprising:
 obtaining a diseased human brain biopsy specimen comprising human GBM tumor cells and normal autologous human neural stem cells (HNSCs); 
 isolating the normal autologous HNSCs from the diseased human brain biopsy specimen from the GBM tumor cells by use of a specific cell marker; 
 transforming the isolated normal autologous HNSCs with an operative PEX gene; and 
 exposing GBM tumor cells to the transformed normal autologous HNSCs to thereby promote apoptosis of the tumor cells mediated by the expressed PEX gene. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein contacting exposing is effected in vitro. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein contacting exposing is effected in vivo. 
     
     
       4. A method of producing transformed human neural stem cells (NHSCs), the method comprising:
 obtaining a diseased human brain biopsy specimen comprising human GBM tumor cells and normal autologous human neural stem cells (HNSCs); 
 isolating the normal autologous HNSCs from the diseased human brain biopsy specimen from the GBM tumor cells by use of a specific cell marker; and 
 transforming the isolated normal autologous HNSCs with an operative PEX gene.